St. Louis Blues vs. Philadelphia Flyers

When: Thu., Dec. 10, 7 p.m. 2015

(c) Mark BucknerDavid Backes in action.

In 1966 the owners of the NHL franchise in Philadelphia held a contest to name their new team. Suggestions included the Ice Picks, the Philly-Billies, the Croaking Crickets and the Scars. The bosses didn't like any of those, and went with "Flyers." Actually, the Scars would've been a more fitting handle for this chain gang of brutes and lunkheads, who during their 1970s heyday did only two things better than brawling: throwing filthy checks and using their sticks as weapons. Such was the Flyers' infamy under defenseman Dave Schultz's and center Bobby Clarke's regime (Schultz provided the fists-of-flint pummeling, Clarke specialized in cheap shots — high-sticking and thrusting his stick between opposing players' legs) that they snagged themselves the sobriquet the Broad Street Bullies. (Editor's note: And won back-to-back Stanley Cups, or two more than the Blues.) The Philadelphia Flyers return to town tonight to take on the first team they ever beat, the St. Louis Blues. Game time is 7 p.m. at Scottrade Center (1401 Clark Avenue; 314-622-4500 or www.scottradecenter.com). Tickets are $39 to $345.